Methods and systems for displaying media content

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for displaying media content. Media content is displayed on user equipment. A scheduled break in the display of the media content is determined using control circuitry. One or more first parameters of the media content are determined for a predetermined period preceding the scheduled break using control circuitry. Additional media content having one or more second parameters corresponding to the one or more first parameters of the media content is selected from memory. The additional media content is displayed on the user equipment during the scheduled break in the display of the media content.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for selecting media content at a server, comprising:
 transmitting the media content for display on a user equipment; 
 identifying a time period preceding a scheduled break in the display of the media content; 
 determining, for the time period preceding the scheduled break, one or more first parameters of the media content; 
 adjusting the start time of the scheduled break based on the one or more first parameters; 
 in response to adjusting the start time of the scheduled break, continuing to determine the one or more first parameters of the media content; 
 selecting an additional media content having one or more second parameters corresponding to at least one of the one or more first parameters of the media content; and 
 transmitting the additional media content during the scheduled break in the display of the media content. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining metadata for the media content, wherein the one or more first parameters of the media content are based on the metadata. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining one or more audio and/or visual characteristics of the media content, wherein the one or more first parameters of the media content are based on the one or more audio and/or visual characteristics. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the additional media content is selected in response to the number of one or more first parameters reaching a first parameter threshold. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising accessing a user profile, wherein selecting the additional media content is based on the user profile. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein selecting the additional media content based on the user profile comprises:
 determining, based on the user profile, a weighting of the one or more first parameters; and 
 selecting the additional media content having the one or more second parameters corresponding to the weighing of the one or more first parameters. 
 
     
     
       7. A system for selecting media content at a server, comprising:
 input/output circuitry configured to: 
 transmit the media content for display on a user equipment; 
 control circuitry configured to: 
 identify a time period preceding a scheduled break in the display of the media content; 
 determine, for the time period preceding the scheduled break, one or more first parameters of the media content; 
 adjust the start time of the scheduled break based on the one or more first parameters; 
 in response to adjusting the start time of the scheduled break, continue to determine the one or more first parameters of the media content; 
 select an additional media content having one or more second parameters corresponding to at least one of the one or more first parameters of the media content; and 
 wherein the input/output circuitry is further configured to: 
 transmit the additional media content during the scheduled break in the display of the media content. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 obtain metadata for the media content, wherein the one or more first parameters of the media content are based on the metadata. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 determine one or more audio and/or visual characteristics of the media content, wherein the one or more first parameters of the media content are based on the one or more audio and/or visual characteristics. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
 select the additional media content in response to the number of one or more first parameters reaching a first parameter threshold. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 access a user profile, wherein selecting the additional media content is based on the user profile. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to select the additional media content based on the user profile by:
 determining, based on the user profile, a weighting of the one or more first parameters; and 
 selecting the additional media content having the one or more second parameters corresponding to the weighing of the one or more first parameters. 
 
     
     
       13. A non-transitory computer readable medium for selecting media content at a server, comprising:
 instructions that when executed by input/output circuitry cause the input/output circuitry to: 
 transmit the media content for display on a user equipment; 
 instructions that when executed by control circuitry cause the control circuitry to: 
 identify a time period preceding a scheduled break in the display of the media content; 
 determine, for the time period preceding the scheduled break, one or more first parameters of the media content; 
 adjust the start time of the scheduled break based on the one or more first parameters; 
 in response to adjusting the start time of the scheduled break, continue to determine the one or more first parameters of the media content; 
 select an additional media content having one or more second parameters corresponding to at least one of the one or more first parameters of the media content; and 
 further comprising instructions that when executed by the input/output circuitry cause the input/output circuitry to: 
 transmit the additional media content during the scheduled break in the display of the media content. 
 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13 , further comprising instructions that when executed by the control circuitry cause the control circuitry to:
 obtain metadata for the media content, wherein the one or more first parameters of the media content are based on the metadata. 
 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13 , further comprising instructions that when executed by the control circuitry cause the control circuitry to:
 determine one or more audio and/or visual characteristics of the media content, wherein the one or more first parameters of the media content are based on the one or more audio and/or visual characteristics. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13 , further comprising instructions that when executed by the control circuitry cause the control circuitry to:
 select the additional media content in response to the number of one or more first parameters reaching a first parameter threshold. 
 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13 , further comprising instructions that when executed by the control circuitry cause the control circuitry to:
 access a user profile, wherein selecting the additional media content is based on the user profile. 
 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions that cause the control circuitry to select the additional media content based on the user profile cause the control circuitry to:
 determine, based on the user profile, a weighting of the one or more first parameters; and 
 select the additional media content having the one or more second parameters corresponding to the weighing of the one or more first parameters.